Odometer



T. K. WORK.

Odomeer.

Paented Feb. 8, 1.859.

THOMAS K. XVORK, OF HARLFORD, CONNECTICUT.

onor/LETER.

Speccation. of Letters Patent No. 22,Q12, dated February 8, 1859.

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS K. litorali, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Odometers; and T do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specilication, in which- Figure l, is a section of my invention, taken in the line m, x, Fig. 2. Fig. 2, is a section of ditto taken in the line y, y, F ig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of odometers in which motion is communicated, from a wheel of the vehicle to which the odometer is applied, to the working parts of the same by a weight.

The object of the within described invention is to obviate the dii'iculty attendingthe casual movement of the weight produced by the jolting of the vehicle or wheels in passing over uneven ground, and consequently insure a correct registration of the distance traveled over by the vehicle.

The invention consists in having the weight attached to an arm by a joint, the weight being of segment or curved form and fitted between two curved annular ledges, as hereinafter fully shown and described, so as to eect the desired result.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, T will proceed to describe it.

A, represents an outer hub band constructed of metal and having a chamber B, screwed into its front end, as shown clearly in F ig. 2. This chamber B, contains the odometer, which is constructed as follows.

The outer end of the chamber B, is provided with a cover or flap a, which is hinged to the chamber and has a spring Z), connected with it, said spring being placed within the chamber, and so act-ing upon the hinge as to keep the cover or iiap closed or preventing it from casually opening. /Vithin the chamber B, a frame formed of two circular plates c, o, are attached, said plates being secured at a proper distance apart by bars or rods (Z, (Z, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. Nithin the frame or between the two plates c, e, and at the outerside of the outermost plate, a system of wheels, similar to a watch movement7 is placed, and

these wheels are connected with a pair of hands or indexes f', g, which traverse over a dial Zz, attached to the outer side of the outermost plate a, the dial being covered bv the cover or flap c'. The index moves with a greater speed than g, as tenito one, the indexY f, indicating units, and the index g tens.

The wheels e, are set in motion bv a pinion e, which has a hollow axis orushaft 2', that is placed loosely on a stationary shaft y'. The hollow shaft extends throiigh the back plate a, and has a ratchet j, on its back end, into which ratchet a pawl Zr, catches.

To the back end of the hollow shaft 2', an arm Z, is attached, said arm having' a cur/ved or segment weight m, pivoted to its lower end. The form of this weight is shown clearly in F ig. l, and it is fitted between two annular and concentric ledges '22, o, which are attached to the back side of the plate o, the space between the ledges being a trifle wider han the weight, in order to permit of the free movement of the latter.

The operation is as follows: The implement, as shown in the drawing, is intended for the wheel at the right hand of the driver, the band A, being attached to the front end of the hub, as usual. As the vehicle is drawn along the arm Z, and pinion e, are kept stationary on account of the weight m, it being recollected that the pinion e, is placed loosely on the shaft j, and the weight m, i'itted loosely between the ledges n, 0. The other wheels e, of course rotate with the band A, and as the wheel e, gears into one of said wheels e, motion is communicated to the latter. The revolutions of the band A, and carriage wheels, therefore, will be noted by the indexes f, g, on the dial Zz, and the exact distance traveled over made known. In case the vehicle is backed the indexes f, g, are not moved, as the pawl Zr, catches into the ratchet j', and prevents motion being communicated to the wheels c. The indexes therefore will not be affected by any backward movement of the vehicle. In case the vehicle is jolted in passing over uneven ground and the wheel to which the odometer is attached suddenly raised, the weight m will be prevented from rising any great distance between the ledges a', 0` as its end will, by centrifugal force, be thrown outward, and the weight will consequently bind between the ledges a, o. The weight m, therefore, when thrown quickly upward and stopped, turns with the band A, until it reaches its proper position, and the increased speed with which the indexes were operated by the sudden upward movementl of the weight will be compensated for by its inaction as it is brought to its original position by the forward movement of the wheel, it being understood that when the weight moves with the band the indexes are stationary, so far as their receding movement is concerned. By this invention, therefore, any movement of the weight consequent on the jolting of the vehicle is compensated Jfor, and the correct distance traveled over will be noted by the indexes on the dial h.

I am aware that weights have been previously used to actuate or communicate motion from carriage wheels to the working parts of odometers, but I am not aware that THOMAS K. IVORK.

VVit-nesses CHARLES E. BULKELEY, GEO. S. GILMAN. 

